‘It's Like a Different Lens’: How Māori Independent Research Centres Contribute to Aotearoa's Research Sector

With the announcement and initial proposal for transformation of the Science System in Aotearoa, there is a generational opportunity to recognise and invest in Māori research centres as hubs of Māori research excellence. However, there is no explicit recognition of Māori research centres within this vision, despite literature consistently highlighting the need for greater Māori research capacity. This article uses a case study of Whakauae Research Services Ltd, a Ngāti Hauiti‐owned research organisation, to shine a light on how Māori research centres support Māori research capacity and capability. Semistructured interviews were conducted with 12 recipients of Whakauae support during their tertiary studies. Using reflexive thematic analysis, three themes were generated exploring how Whakauae supports tertiary students and supports Māori health research capacity and capability building: nurturing excellent researchers , cultural understanding and community‐driven purpose . These themes explore how Whakauae provides a unique lens to student support that differs from universities. Through focusing on practical skills, a supportive cultural environment and a shared vision for thriving Māori communities, Whakauae inspires and motivates emerging researchers. We argue that any sector‐level transformation needs to include specific recognition and resourcing of Māori research centres, as emerging powerhouses of Māori research and development.